Chijioke Iremeka
Developing a safe, effective, and affordable preventive vaccine for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus holds transformative potential in controlling and eradicating the disease globally, vaccine specialists and experts in infectious diseases have asserted.
They said to control and ultimately eradicate HIV, the world needs a powerful array of preventive tools that are widely accessible to those who need them.
According to the experts, vaccines historically have been the most effective means to prevent and eradicate infectious diseases, noting that they safely and cost-effectively prevent illnesses, disabilities, and deaths.
The professionals are optimistic that a preventive HIV vaccine, like those of smallpox and polio vaccines, could help save millions of lives, and that is why developing the vaccine has been a pillar of the National Institute of Health’s scientific mission since the start of the HIV pandemic.
Information obtained by PUNCH Healthwise on HIV.gov, an official United States Government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, supported by the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund, indicates that it has been a long-term goal of NIH to develop a safe and effective vaccine that protects people from acquiring HIV globally.
Emphasising the need for the HIV vaccine, the institute states, “Even if a vaccine only protects some people who get vaccinated, or even if it provides less than total protection by reducing the risk of getting HIV, it could still have a major impact on the rates of transmission and help control the pandemic, particularly for populations most affected by HIV.
“A partially effective vaccine could decrease the number of people who acquire HIV, further reducing the number of people who can pass the virus on to others. By substantially reducing the number of people who acquire and transmit HIV, we can stop the epidemic.”
Also, during the 2024 HIV Vaccine Awareness Day on May 18, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases noted that vaccines consistently transform public health, stating that HIV vaccine research has been a pillar of NIAID’s scientific mission since the beginning of the HIV pandemic.
NAIDS stated, “An HIV vaccine has proven to be among the most daunting scientific challenges, but has inspired exceptional innovation and collaboration in all aspects of our research approach.
“On the 27th observance of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, we expressed our gratitude to the dedicated global community of scientists, advocates, study participants, study staff, and funders working toward a safe, effective, durable, and accessible HIV vaccine.
“As the lead of the National Institutes of Health HIV vaccine research effort, NIAID conducts basic, preclinical, and clinical research to characterise the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of promising HIV vaccine concepts.
“Through the HIV Vaccine Trials Network, NIAID supports clinical trials where HIV is most prevalent, including in the Global South. Over decades of research, with disappointing results from large efficacy studies, the HIV vaccine field has learned and iteratively evolved with every step.”
It noted that the NIAID has more knowledge now than ever before about how an HIV vaccine could work, saying that the research teams are using discovery medicine trials and new vaccine technologies to identify and stimulate the types of immune responses that hold the most promise for preventing HIV.
It noted that people with HIV have made priceless contributions to HIV vaccine science by participating in research that teaches how the human immune system responds to HIV, adding that some people naturally keep the virus under control even without antiretroviral therapy.
“Through their participation in clinical research, we have identified aspects of both cellular immunity, which is driven by T cells, and humoral immunity driven by antibody-producing B cells that likely need to be stimulated and amplified by a safe and effective preventive vaccine.
“Meanwhile, as promising concepts are identified and advanced through clinical trials, the field must continue to optimise vaccine formulations and dosing, and find novel adjuvants that can prolong and amplify immune responses,” it added.
An infectious disease expert and a professor of Community Medicine and Public Health at the Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Ulu Ogbonnanya, said there is high hope for an effective vaccine for HIV.
Ogbonnanya said though there is no cure for HIV, scientists are in their last lap in rolling out the vaccine as the clinical trials of the vaccine have shown some positive outcomes.
Asked how soon this vaccine would be approved and made available for use, Ogbonnanya, who is also the former Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, said that the question can only be answered by vaccinologists.
He noted that more people with HIV, ever than before, now have access to life-saving treatment with HIV medicines known as antiretroviral therapy, which is good for their health.
“When people with HIV take HIV medicine as prescribed and keep an undetected viral load, they can live long and healthy lives and will not transmit the disease to their HIV-negative partners through sex.
“We will continue with ARTs until the vaccine is concluded and declared safe, and efficient for treatment of HIV/AIDS in the world,” he added.
Corroborating his position, a Consultant Public Health Physician at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gambo Ibrahim said that scientists have played a pivotal role in the quest for an HIV vaccine, driving forward research and innovation to address one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time.
He added that their tireless efforts have led to significant advancements in understanding the virus, developing vaccine candidates, and refining vaccination strategies.
He said, “One of the most notable achievements in HIV vaccine research has been the identification of promising vaccine candidates that have shown efficacy in clinical trials.
“While no vaccine has achieved full protection against HIV, several candidates have demonstrated partial efficacy. For example, the RV144 trial conducted in Thailand revealed a modest level of protection against HIV acquisition, sparking optimism and renewed investment in vaccine development efforts.
“Moreover, scientists have leveraged cutting-edge technologies and innovative approaches to enhance vaccine design and delivery. This includes the development of mosaic vaccines, which incorporate components from multiple HIV strains to elicit broad and potent immune responses.
“Mosaic vaccines have shown promise in preclinical studies and are currently being evaluated in clinical trials to assess their efficacy and safety.”
Also, he noted that researchers have explored novel vaccine delivery platforms, such as viral vectors and nanoparticle formulations, to improve vaccine immunogenicity and the durability of protection.”
According to him, these platforms offer unique advantages, including delivering vaccine antigens directly to target cells and enhancing immune recognition and activation.
“By harnessing the power of these advanced technologies, scientists aim to overcome the challenges posed by HIV’s genetic diversity and variability, ultimately paving the way for more effective vaccines.
“Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain on the path to developing an effective HIV vaccine, HIV’s ability to rapidly mutate and evade immune detection poses formidable obstacles to vaccine design and efficacy,” he added.
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